LONDON -- It was the most anticipated bout since Mayweather and Pacquiao: David Cameron facing new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn across the table in the House of Commons.
Trending on Twitter all Wednesday morning, Prime Minister's Questions (or PMQs, a weekly occurence when the house is sitting) was of particular note because Corbyn had promised to ask questions crowdsourced from the public.
He'd also said he wanted to end "yah-boo, theatrical politics" at an event renowned for boos, jeers and combative comments from both sides.
WHOO! #PMQs! BRING ON THE PAIN! pic.twitter.com/Ej5m6oCVqU— Al Vimh (@al_vimh) September 16, 2015
The half-hour session didn't disappoint.
Starting by thanking all those who voted for him, Corbyn quickly reiterated his call for proceedings to take a more serious and substantial air, with which Cameron quickly agreed, before quizzing the prime minister on tax credits, housing and cuts to mental health services.
At first, the chamber was relatively calm, but it didn't take long for the boorish noises to emerge from both sides.
Cameron attempted to tone down the red-faced rhetoric, but admitted it was taking a while to learn a calmer approach. "I thought this was the new PMQs," he snapped as sneers went round the house at one point.
With many watching live on TV and social media, the event was a uniquely British circus.
Corbyn turned up in a suit seemingly stolen from Dwight Schrute from the U.S. version of The Office. At least he'd done up his top button, something he forgot to do during the Battle of Britain service.
Great suit, tbh #PMQs (via @ChristophHooton) pic.twitter.com/oePrTGAIHh— i100 (@thei100) September 16, 2015
He said he'd received 40,000 questions from the public, and began reading some out in the style of a radio phone-in. Sadly, they were all relatively straightforward.
A woman called Marie wanted to know what the government was going to do about the "chronic lack of affordable housing."
Tories sniggering every time Corbyn mentions a member of the public's name. At least they are real people, unlike those the DWP made up.— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) September 16, 2015
Still have high hopes for "what is your favourite dinosaur?" #PMQs— Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) September 16, 2015
The new format was deemed refreshing by many, but others thought it simply gave Cameron his own platform for well-rehearsed answers.
Refreshing new approach to #PMQs from @jeremycorbyn - long may it last!— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 16, 2015
The session took in a broad range of topics including Ebola, the IRA, the proposed trade union bill, and NHS spending, but of course it was questions about a tiger at the Isle of Wight zoo and a rhino called Nancy that everyone remembered when the MPs had filed out of the room.
I'm afraid the only lasting image from this PMQs is going to be Nancy the shagging rhino at Cotswold Wildlife Park. Oh dear— Camilla Long (@camillalong) September 16, 2015